Vitamin D is essential for both mental and physical health, yet deficiencies are extremely common. Avoiding sun exposure, along with aging, dark skin, obesity, diabetes, and genetic variations can make it difficult to convert and activate vitamin D. The same applies to deficiencies in magnesium and zinc. Because active vitamin D is considered a steroid hormone, minor or major deficiencies may result in a wide range of symptoms and diseases.

Breast milk is packed with nutrients that are naturally designed to support a newborn’s growth and development. It is therefore recommended that newborns receive only breast milk during their first six months. However, preterm infants with low birth weight who are exclusively breastfed without additional multivitamin supplementation do not get enough B vitamins. According to a Norwegian study published in Nutrients, this can have a number of health consequences, especially ones that involve the central nervous system. The authors therefore recommend that mothers of preterm infants with low birth weight receive specific dietary guidance in order to optimize their children’s vitamin and mineral status.

The body’s metabolism encompasses all processes that convert food into energy, as well as those that maintain stable blood sugar levels, normal lipid balance, and normal blood pressure. Metabolic health is therefore crucial in the prevention and management of a range of lifestyle-related diseases. Selenium plays a key role through various enzymatic processes and as a protective antioxidant. Since selenium deficiency is widespread, a team of researchers has reviewed a number of studies examining how selenium supplementation may be relevant in metabolic disorders, including insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome, which is a precursor to type 2 diabetes. Selenium supplementation may also be relevant in connection with various thyroid disorders.

Zinc is involved in several hundred enzymatic processes that are important for cellular signaling, overall health, and the body’s primary antioxidant defenses. Zinc also plays multiple roles in the brain and nervous system. A deficiency of zinc, as well as disturbances in its metabolism, may therefore contribute to the development of Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and other neurodegenerative disorders. In addition, there is evidence that zinc supplementation has therapeutic potential, including the protection of nerve cells and the regeneration of damaged neurons. This is highlighted in a review article published in Molecular Neurobiology.

Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death among kidney patients receiving dialysis, and effective prevention has been lacking. However, it now appears that higher intake of fish oil may reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke by as much as 43%. This is shown in a large placebo-controlled population study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The researchers note that fish oil also benefits the cardiovascular system in the general population, and that it is especially the omega-3 forms EPA and DHA from fatty fish that have the beneficial effect.

Digestion plays a crucial role in our physical and mental health. Ideally, the bowels should be emptied every day, but constipation and other intestinal disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are very common due to changes in peristalsis, genetic variations, and other factors. According to a large international population study published in BMJ Journals GUT, vitamin B1 has a surprising and positive effect on peristalsis and bowel habits.

Magnesium is one of the minerals we need in the greatest amounts, as it is incorporated into bones and involved in several hundred enzymatic processes that are essential for overall mental and physical health. Magnesium deficiency is very widespread, and because it cannot be detected using standard blood tests, the problem often goes unnoticed. This is highlighted in a review article in which researchers refer to studies showing that magnesium supplementation may be relevant for depression, insomnia, neuropathy, migraine, diabetes, high blood pressure, and several other conditions.

An estimated 2.2 billion people worldwide are deficient in vitamin B1, which is primarily caused by an unbalanced diet, excessive consumption of coffee or tea, various medications, environmental toxins, and genetic defects. The same applies to high alcohol intake, where long-term abuse can lead to life-threatening brain inflammation. Evidence suggests that higher doses of vitamin B1 in supplement form may have a beneficial effect on many symptoms and diseases.

Stroke remains the leading cause of death worldwide. Acute kidney injury is also a common complication that increases the risk of prolonged hospitalization and death. Previous studies have shown that vitamin D deficiency increases the risk of stroke, and it also appears that vitamin D deficiency raises the risk of acute kidney injury and early death following a stroke. This is highlighted in a new study published in Frontiers in Nutrition.